A thermal power plant construction workers in Turkey’s Soma had been dismissed by the KOLIN Construction company in April 2018. According to the claims, workers from China have been employed instead of dismissed 2,000 workers

2,000 workers of a thermal power plant construction in Soma district of Turkey’s western province of Manisa had been dismissed by the administration of Hidro-Gen A.Ş. operated within KOLIN Construction Tourism Industry and Trading Co. Inc. in April 2018.

It has been claimed by a worker who did not wish to be named that workers from China have been employed instead of 2,000 dismissed due to a disagreement between KOLIN Construction Company and EFOR Industrial Plants Installation, Manufacture and Construction Inc. ─ which is a subcontractor company.

500 CHINESE WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED IN THE FIRST PHASE: WAGE IS $300

500 Chinese workers have been employed in the construction of thermal power plan in the first phase through Chinese Harbin Electric International (HEI). Negotiated price to be paid to Chinese workers is $300, Mesopotamia News Agency reported.

As the number of unemployed increases every passing day due to the economic crisis in Turkey, 500 Chinese workers have been immediately employed following their arrival in the country.

650 Chinese workers including technical staff and 4,500 local workers are currently employed in the construction. Yet, 2,000 more Chinese workers will be employed in the construction in the near future, it has been learned.

‘WORKERS BEGAN TO BE DISMISSED AFTER EMPLOYMENT OF CHINESE WORKERS’

"Unemployment in Soma is at the highest level. Chinese workers have been employed in the district, despite the fact that there is a large number of unemployed citizens. We may fight with Chinese workers in order to earn our bread now. Generally, employers do not present us humanly working and living conditions. We do not want to be treated as inferior. We want everything should be in equal conditions. While Chinese workers must be employed in their own country, Turkish employers bring these workers to Turkey and hire them in a region where the unemployment rate is very high," workers said regarding the situation.

‘OUR REACTION IS NOT RACIST’

Underlining that their reaction should not be perceived as "racism," the workers stated that it is not ethical for them to be unemployed in their own countries due to the fact that Chinese workers are employed as cheap labour force from another country.

SoL News contacted with KOLIN Construction Tourism Industry and Trading Co. Inc. upon the claims of the workers. Stating that currently there isn’t any official from the executive board regarding the issue, the operator said: "We will only return to you if an official comes and wants to respond to your questions. We do not know how many Chinese workers are employed and we are not authorized to know it."